The WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router ($249.99 list) is the latest addition to the Linksys family of WRT routers, and like its predecessors it allows you to substitute the router's stock firmware with open-source code that offers customized settings and advanced monitoring capabilities. It also supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which sends data to MU-MIMO–compatible clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. It also offers Tri-Stream 160 technology, which effectively doubles the 80MHz channel width on the 5GHz band to achieve faster throughput speeds. The problem is, there aren't yet any Tri-Stream clients available to take advantage of the increased throughput capabilities. The WRT3200ACM took top honors on our file transfer tests. And although it also performed quite well on our 5GHz and MU-MIMO throughput tests, it couldn't match the overall performance of the Trendnet AC2600 StreamBoost MU-MIMO WiFi Router (TEW-827DRU).

Design and Features

The WRT3200ACM retains the familiar black-and-blue 2.1-by-9.6-by-7.6-inch (HWD) enclosure design used on earlier WRT models such as the WRT 1200AC and the WRT 1900AC. It has four adjustable removable external antennas and a series of LED status indicators on the front for Internet, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands, WPS, the LAN ports, the USB and eSATA ports, and Power. Around back are four Gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, and Reset, Power, and WPS buttons. The WRT3200ACM is powered by a 1.8GHz dual-core processor and uses the latest 802.11ac circuitry with support for MU-MIMO, beamforming, and Tri-Stream 160MHz technologies. This is an AC3200 router that can reach (theoretical) throughput speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2600Mbps on the 5GHz band.

The WRT3200ACM uses the same Web-based Smart Wi-Fi management console as the EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router and the EA7500 Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, and can also be controlled using the Smart Wi-Fi mobile app. The Web console's home page contains various widgets on the right and a list of Smart Wi-Fi Tools and Router Settings on the left. The Network Map tool displays all devices connected to the network and total Internet bandwidth usage, and the Guest Access tool allows you to create individual SSIDs and passwords for guest use. The Parental Controls tool is what you use to block Internet access and access to certain sites for one or more of your clients, and the Media Prioritization tool lets you favor network traffic for specific devices and applications such as online games. Use the Speed Test tool to see how fast your Internet upload and download speeds are and the External Storage tool to share folders on connected hard drives and set up FTP and Media Server capabilities.

Router Settings include Connectivity, Wireless, Troubleshooting, Security, and OpenVPN Server settings. The Connectivity page contains Internet and Local Network settings, NAT and Advanced Routing configuration, and a firmware upgrade page. The Troubleshooting page lets you run network diagnostics and view security logs, and the Wireless page is where you go to assign security settings to each band, change channels and channel width, and create wireless access schedules. The Security page offers firewall and VPN Passthrough settings, port forwarding and port triggering, and Internet filtering, while the OpenVPN Server page lets you configure ports and set up IP Addresses to allow access to your home network.

Installation and Performance

As with most Linksys routers, the WRT3200ACM is easy to install and configure. Once it's plugged in and connected to your host PC, just enter http://linksyssmartwifi.com in your browser's address bar to launch the setup wizard, which walks you through initial Internet and wireless settings. You can also choose to bypass the wizard and configure the router manually.

The WRT3200ACM turned in strong results on our 5GHz throughput tests. It attained 569Mbps on the close-proximity (same-room) test, which was just a shade slower than the Trendnet AC2600 TEW-827 (590Mbps) but faster than the Linksys MaxStream EA7500 (495Mbps) and the Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 (558Mbps). At a distance of 30 feet, the WRT3200ACM rated 238Mbps, compared with the Linksys EA7500's leading 298Mbps. The Zyxel Z2 managed 251Mbps and the Trendnet TEW-827 260Mbps.

We test MU-MIMO performance using three identical Acer Aspire R 13 laptops equipped with Qualcomm's QCA61x4A MU-MIMO circuitry. The WRT3200ACM averaged 174Mbps on the close-proximity test, beating the Zyxel Z2 (150Mbps) but coming in right behind the Linksys EA7500 (176Mbps). The Trendnet TEW-827 led with 238.3Mbps. On our 30-foot MU-MIMO test, the WRT3200ACM (138Mbps) beat the Trendnet TEW-827 (127Mbps), the Zyxel Z2 (72Mbps), and the Linksys EA7500 (81.2Mbps).

The WRT3200ACM did not fare so well on our 2.4GHz throughput tests. Its result of 76Mbps on the close-proximity test was behind the Trendnet TEW-827's 108Mbps, the Linksys EA7500's 97.3Mbps, and the Zyxel Z2's 97.2Mbps. At 30 feet, the WRT3200ACM returned 58.5Mbps, trailing the Trendnet TEW-827 (75.3Mbps) and the Zyxel Z2 (69.9Mbps) but beating the Linksys EA7500 (52.1Mbps).

We test file transfer performance by moving a 1.5GB folder containing a mix of music, photo, document, and video files between a wired desktop and a USB drive connected to the router. On these tests, the WRT3200ACM turned in the fastest speeds we've seen. With a rate of 74MBps on the write test, it surpassed our previous champ, the WRT 1200AC (73.1MBps), and blew away the Zyxel Z2 (35.1MBps) and the Trendnet TEW-827 (30.3MBps). Similarly, with a read result of 88MBps, the WRT3200ACM is our new leader, beating the Linksys WRT1900AC (80MBps), the WRT1200AC (76.8MBps), and the Zyxel Z2 (51.2MBps).

Conclusion

The Linksys WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router is a strong choice for users who want to use OpenWrt or DD-WRT firmware distros to customize their router. It offers all of the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi features, including MU-MIMO streaming and beamforming, and it's ready for 160MHz-channel-width streaming when compatible clients become available. The WRT3200ACM delivered excellent 5GHz throughput on our tests, and its file transfer performance is second to none. That said, its 2.4GHz performance was less than stellar. If raw throughput speed is more important than having open-source capabilities, check out our Editors' Choice for midrange routers, the Trendnet AC2600 StreamBoost MU-MIMO WiFi Router (TEW-827DRU). It turned in better throughput scores on our 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and MU-MIMO throughput tests, and it's around $40 cheaper than the WRT3200ACM.

About the Author

As a Contributing Editor for PCMag, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, TVs, PCs, networking and smart home gear, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for almost 20 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of t... See Full Bio

Linksys WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router

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